Good movie. 14 year olds can watch it alone.
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Chinatown
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Great hardboiled detective film. Not for kids.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–17
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Chinatown
Parents need to know that this film focuses on corruption within the government. The film presents many instances of mild violence (fistfights, gunplay, murdered bodies, etc.) and a more disturbingly violent onscreen killing of a major character. Parents should note that characters with whom viewers place emotional investment meet extremely unfortunate demises. The film also includes some sexually suggestive materials (post-coitus conversation, dirty jokes, implications of incest, etc.).
Read our full review by Kelly Kessler
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about whether a grey area exists between right and wrong (the violent police, the crooked government, and the antihero detective). Did Evelyn Mulwray's abusive relationship with her father excuse her actions at the end of the film? How does Jake break his cardinal rule in his dealings with Evelyn, and how does that comment on his character? This film also lends itself to discussions about cinematic style (excellent harshly shadowed lighting) and issues of genre. How does the type of storytelling present in this film compare to current trends in television detective shows such as Law and Order and C.S.I.?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Contains Jack Nicholson + Roman Polanski.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Excellent Film...
This is a great film for a great director and it stars one of the greatest actors of all time. I think that this film is like an 11+ the swearing is not a problem there is one F-Word...maybe 2, I saw it a year ago. But anyway, you hear worst language in a parking lot. The violence is infrequent but quite graphic, the climax shows a very realistic shooting victem (missing an eye, and covered in fresh blood) which is only made so much more disturbing by the character's child's tramatized (and maybe tramatizing) screams at their parent dead body, I don't belive in cencorship but I would say if you or you're child has lost a parent you might want to avoid the movie, the great perfomances make it all much more scary. The sexual themes are not a problem, a quick veiw of a breast and implied sex. The film may not be good for a few sensitive kids or teens but it such a good film, that any aspiring film maker should see it.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Terrific Film
Nicholson is excellent in this classic, and although it's not for kids older teens may enjoy it. I certainly did.
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